The Persian Wars
When
• The Persian Wars were fought from 499 to
448 B.C.E.
• Perspective: Emperor Qin gained control
of China in 221 B.C.E. (Over 200 years
later).
Where
• Ionian peninsula
Why
• Persia was the worlds
largest empire, with
intentions to rule all
the known world.
• The Persians
defeated and
occupied some Greek
cities. They rebelled
and most of Greece
joined in the
resistance.
Lets meet the Persians…
• The Persian empire was led by King
Darius at the beginning of the war.
• Darius died before the wars were over
(They lasted about 50 years, that’s a long
time!!!) and his son and successor King
Xerxes was determined to finish what his
father set out to do…SUBJAGATE
GREECE!!!
The Persian army…
• The army that
invaded Greece
numbered up to
250,000 men.
• Much of the Persian
army were
conscripted from
conquered lands.
Lets meet the Greeks…
• Themistocles – Athenian leader who
convinced Athens to build a large navy.
Led the Athenian navy during the battle of
Salamis. Also fought in Marathon.
• Leonides – One of the Spartan kings. Led
the Greeks during the battle of
Thermopylae.
The Greek army…
• The Greeks fielded
much smaller armies
on the battlefield than
the Persians.
• Their advantage was
their superior training
and armor, plus they
fought on their
mountainous
homeland.
The decisive battles…
• Marathon 490 B.C.E.
• Thermopylae 480 B.C.E.
• Salamis 480 B.C.E.
Marathon
• 10,000 Greeks
(mostly Athenians)
defeat 50,000
Persians.
• This victory gave all
of Greece hope that
they could defeat the
Persians if they
united.
Thermopylae
• 10,000 Greeks fought off
up to 250,000 Persians
for three days.
• The time saved allowed
the Greeks to flee Athens
with their wealth and
records before it was
sacked.
• Time was also made for
the Greek fleet to prepare
for the battle of Salamis.
Salamis
• The united Greek
fleet trapped and
destroyed the
Persians much larger
fleet.
• The Persians could
not continue the war
without its fleet, and
soon return to Persia.
The end of the wars (for now)…
• The Persians are defeated one last time at
the battle of Plataea.
• The Persians give up hope of conquering
Greece, and go home.
• The Persian empire goes into regression
soon afterward.
Why should this be important to
me?
• Preserved western civilization/culture.
• Preserved the idea of humanism,
democracy, checks and balances,
citizenship, constitution, the idea of the
military serving the population.
• Athens entered its golden age shortly after
the wars ended.
Assignment
• Each student will write in their own words
a brief summary of the Greek-Persian
wars.
• This summary will be no shorter than a
paragraph and no longer than a page.
Make sure your paper includes…
• At least one mention of one of the battles
discussed (Marathon, Thermopylae,
Salamis), and its importance explained.
• Give at least one reason why the
outnumbered Greeks were able to defeat
the Persians.
• Offer at least one thing about Greek
culture that was worth saving and why.